Sanctification | Russian River Brewing Company

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Notes / Commercial Description:
Who’s afraid of the "big bad BRETT?" We’ll tell you who: winemakers! Because of our close proximity to several hundred wineries, we often get winemakers visiting our brewery. (After all, it takes a lot of great beer to make great wine!) Because we use 100% Brettanomyces yeast to ferment Sanctification, most winemakers will only smell the glass, and only a very few will venture to taste the beer. They think the Brettanomyces will attach to their clothing and end up in their winery. A simple solution was offered: keep a smudge pot burning at the door of our brewery so they can burn their clothes when exiting, but even that was not enough. After giving it more thought, we concluded that winemakers think Brettanomyces might scar their taste buds and possible even permeate their skin? Either way, Sanctification is one of the most unique beers you will ever taste! It was fermented with 100% Brettanomyces, rather than the traditional Saccharomyces.

Reviews by craft_shannie:

More User Reviews:

Appearance  This one is light orange in color with a beautiful white, puffy head that was just enchanting. I just couldnt stop staring at this ale.

Smell  The wonderful Belgian yeast was dynamic. I cant tell you how excited I get when I find a true, authentic yeast smell in an American effort at this style. Theres a rich sourness there too thats way off from a Flanders Ale but big nevertheless.

Taste  The yeast is terrific at the taste, and the sourness is similar to what youd find in an Unblended Lambic. Its not overpowering and comes on more complimentary. The hops give a light tartness to the ale. The flavors work together in perfect harmony.

Mouthfeel  This one is medium-bodied with a light tartness and very pleasant sourness that is mixed with some lively carbonation.

Drinkability  If theres such a thing as a session Belgian Ale than this is it. I could have drank this one all night.

Comments  I was in town one week early for the release of the next batch (last batch was out) but Vinnie the brewmaster was nice enough to bring some out from the back room. What a treat it was drinking this incredible ale with the brewer, my wife, and rapopoda who was also in town for barrel tasting weekend.

Vinnie described it as a sour blonde Belgian ale. It is primarily fermented with 100% Brettanomyces and bottle conditioned to create lush carbonation. It may not fall perfectly into a BJCP Guideline (other than Belgian specialty, of course) but this is one of the most drinkable ales on the planet. I kind of see it as an American made Belgian equivalent to a German Berliner Weisse, but thats just my own take on it. Whatever you call it, this ale is good good good.

Pretty much perfect. Sanctification could have been be an unblended lambic from one of the Belgian grandmasters. It was so wonderful that I drank four or five glasses and bought half a case on the spot. Its simply that good. Appearance wise we are talking about a very pale, almost white golden ale body with a healthy white lacing. The aroma is powerful, previewing sourness, and boasting of perfectly created and utilized yeast strains and lots of funky, living organisms. Barnyard funk, rotten lemon peals, and apple vinegar are huge. The nose also plays at tobacco and citrus. The first taste is pure heaven. Its tart in a lemony way, sour in a bret/funky yeast sort of way, slightly bitter in a hoppy way, light and spritsy. Sweet, very ripened grapefruit that has been eaten away at just a touch by bacteria, hay, damp corn husks, rotten melons, wood roundedness, dashes of lemon and orange zest, etc Bone dry and fairly light body. Musty and astringent. Sourness is not over the top and although this doesnt enter the battery acid or sweaty donkey hair area, this is at times very geuze like. Sessionable indeed. Pretty much perfect.

Thanks again to Jeff for splitting his RR sours with me. Sanctification pours a hazy, golden-apple color, appearing translucent as light shines through it, although it's impossible to see through to the other side. A soapy and foamy white head leaves some light dredging along the glass as it falls.

The aroma contains a ton of funk - wow! Musty cellar, cork... just huge amounts of Brett left and right. Makes sense, since as this is brewed with 100% Brett. Some mild sour fruits back up the aroma, but the more and more I sniff, the more and more Brett becomes the only thing I smell. Mild oak and wood on the tail end, still wet and funky smelling, with a touch of tart and sweet apple skins. Certainly a funk-head's dream, but I can't accurately judge how sour this one's gonna be. It smells more funky than tart, but RR sours have been known to play that trick on me. I guess we'll see.

Up front, the taste is extremely sour, even more so than the aroma would lead you to believe, so I guess there's the answer to that question. This bad boy is puckering right from the start - green apples, white grapes, super-ripe and sour pears. The assertive tartness is not alone, however, as the funk is very nearly as strong. Wet wood, cork, damp cellar, and huge barnyard notes, left and right. The sourness seems to tone down a bit as the beers warms, and the finish is pretty dry overall. Medium bodied, medium-high amount of carbonation with a slick mouth feel.

Another damn good Russian River wild ale. I don't think it's possible for them to put out a bad one. This is probably one of the more funky ones that I've had, but it still had an intense sour element right off the bat, so nothing was lost in that department. Thanks again to Jeff for breaking this one out.

Pours into my tulip glass a beautifully vibrant clear golden orange that reminds me of a fall harvest. Two fingers of creamy white foam sits atop the brew and the plentiful active carbonation makes it linger on. Can't ask for much more looks wise, downright enticing. Aromas start with fresh pale malts showing a bit of sweet grain scents. Fruit, lemon and honey come through with a bit of a floral accent. Tartness and a barnyard hay backbone emerge with the Brett. Lovely.

First sip brings wonderful sweet and tart malt upfront with a mix of fruit flavors including peach and lemon. Barnyard funk, honey and hay flavors roll through with a bracing tartness that engulfs the mouth. Woody oak tones along with a bit of dryness. The flavor lingers on after each sip of this tasty Brett enhanced golden ale.

Mouthfeel is smooth, velvety and effortless with an effervescent carbonation throughout. This beer is simply amazingly crafted and downright delicious. I would drink this constantly if it was more available. A tart, funky, beauty in a bottle. Russian River knocks it way out of the park once again.

Pours a crystal-clear gold with a fine white head. I like yeast so I did a full pour and let the it free, adding some chunky haze.
Aroma is funk, lemon and a touch of vinegar.
Tastes great: tart lemon, light funk, slight vinegar, touch of sweet lemon meringue pie.
Mouth is medium and very bubbly.
Excellent.